CHICAGO - BTN is welcoming the University of Maryland to the conference in a B1G way, adding Maryland experts to its on-air roster and planning a full day of programming dedicated to Maryland Athletics.

Joining BTN’s on-air roster are Scott McBrien, former Maryland quarterback and Shawne Merriman, a former Maryland linebacker, 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time NFL Pro Bowl selection. McBrien will serve as a game analyst and Merriman will be a studio analyst.

Returning to BTN as a studio analyst is Gary Williams, coach of the 2002 NCAA champion basketball team and 2014 College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. New to the team are Dan Bonner, longtime ACC announcer, and Drew Nicholas, a member of the 2002 National Champion Terrapin basketball team. Nicholas will be studio analysts while Bonner will be a game analyst. Additionally, former Maryland basketball player Christy Winters-Scott will serve as both a studio and game analyst for women’s basketball.

New play-by-play announcers will include Joe Beninati, the voice of the Washington Capitals (football, lacrosse); Dave Johnson, voice of the Washington Wizards and DC United (soccer); and Frank Hanrahan, voice of the Washington Mystics and morning anchor on WNEW Radio (football sideline, women’s basketball ).

BTN will televise at least 40 football games this fall, including Maryland versus 2013 Big Ten Champion and Rose Bowl victor Michigan State at Byrd Stadium on Nov. 15, as well as James Madison at Maryland on Aug. 30 and West Virginia at Maryland on Sept. 13. Television arrangements for Maryland’s remaining games will be announced six to 12 days in advance.

“Maryland Day” on BTN will be Thursday, July 31, and will feature some of the most memorable games in Terrapin history.

At 10 AM ET, the network will air TheBig Ten Welcomes Maryland, a 60-minute show hosted by BTN’s Dave Revsine. Revsine will be joined in studio by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, while BTN football analyst Gerry DiNardo discusses the history and future of Maryland football and BTN basketball analyst Jim Jackson shares his perspective on Terrapin hoops. Also featured on the show will be interviews with Maryland Athletic Director Kevin Anderson, football coach Randy Edsall, men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon and former basketball standouts Juan Dixon and John Lucas. The show also will air at 3 PM ET and 10 PM ET.

Below is a partial schedule for July 31. Complete listings available at BTN.com/Shows.

About BTN: A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, BTN is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 800 events, all in HD, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. BTN2Go is the 24/7 simulcast of BTN that delivers live and on-demand programming via the internet, smartphones and tablets to customers of participating video providers. Events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events; studio shows; and classic games. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities. The groundbreaking Student U initiative provides real-world experience for students interested in careers in sports television. The network is in more than 52 million homes across the United States and Canada, including carriage by all the major video distributors, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Communications, Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, Rogers Cable, Shaw and Shaw Direct (Canada) and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America.For additional information, go to www.BTN.com.